A report by the Pennsylvania Department of Health found that hospitals in the state reported 25,914 hospital-acquired infections in 2009, down an estimated 12.5 percent from 2008.
The report, 2009 Report: Healthcare-Associated Infections in Pennsylvania Hospitals, found that the most commonly reported HAIs in 2009 were surgical site infections (24.2 percent), urinary tract infections (23.7 percent), gastrointestinal infections (18.7 percent) and blood stream infections (12.6 percent). Among the urinary tract infections, 64 percent were associated with a urinary catheter, and among the blood stream infections, 67 percent were associated with the presence of a central line.
The report is the first by the state to examine full-year data on HAIs. Thus, comparisons to 2008 had to be estimated using data for only six-months. While the comparison suggests improvement in the prevalence of HAIs, the comparisons should be viewed with caution, according to the report.
Read the report, as posted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, on Pennsylvania hospital infection rates (pdf).
The report, 2009 Report: Healthcare-Associated Infections in Pennsylvania Hospitals, found that the most commonly reported HAIs in 2009 were surgical site infections (24.2 percent), urinary tract infections (23.7 percent), gastrointestinal infections (18.7 percent) and blood stream infections (12.6 percent). Among the urinary tract infections, 64 percent were associated with a urinary catheter, and among the blood stream infections, 67 percent were associated with the presence of a central line.
The report is the first by the state to examine full-year data on HAIs. Thus, comparisons to 2008 had to be estimated using data for only six-months. While the comparison suggests improvement in the prevalence of HAIs, the comparisons should be viewed with caution, according to the report.
Read the report, as posted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, on Pennsylvania hospital infection rates (pdf).